Rotating decorative sheet metal ornament

ABSTRACT

A three dimensional decorative assembly features an inner member suspended for rotation within an opening in an outer member. Each member is made of differently coloured sheet metal and includes a plurality of strips extending between aligned spines at opposite ends on each side of said spines. The strips are progressively longer moving outward from the center of the assembly. In each member, the strips are spaced apart by a distance between an inner edge of one strip and an outer edge of an adjacent strip. In addition, an angle between adjacent strips angularly spaces the plurality of strips of each member about an axis defined by the spines thereof. Together, the inner edges of the shortest strip on each side of the spines of the outer member define the opening therein. Pivot supports are used to suspend the outer member for free rotation and suspend the inner member within the opening of said outer member such that each member can rotate independently about the axis defined by its spines.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a three dimensional decorative spinnerassembly having at least one decorative member created from flat sheetmaterial suspended for rotation within an outer decorative member alsocreated from flat sheet material and suspended for rotation.

A multitude of three dimensional decorations have been created fromsheet material by various processes including cutting, bending andpainting of the material to obtain visually attractive forms.

One such decorative device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,815. Thedevice comprises a series of angularly spaced strips of sheet materialconnected by spines at either end of said strips. The strips arepreferably arranged in pairs such that the two strips in each pair areannularly displaced by 180 degrees in order to form a plane through theaxis formed by the spines at either end of the strips. Each strip in thepair thereby outlines half a geometric shape on a respective side of thespines, the pair thereby together outlining a closed geometric shape inplane they define. The device is supported for rotation about the axisformed by the spines in order to create an appealing visual effect whenspun.

The present invention is aimed at improving on the visual effect createdby the rotation of a three dimensional decorative device created fromsheet material.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided adecorative assembly comprising:

-   -   an outer member comprising:    -   a first spine having an axis, a first aperture near an outer end        and a second aperture near an inner end;    -   a second spine having the same axis as the first spine;    -   a first series of progressively longer angularly spaced strips        each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends,        each end connected to a respective one of the spines on a first        side; and    -   a second series of progressively longer angularly spaced strips        each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends,        each end connected to a respective one of the spines on a second        side;    -   wherein the strips in each series are spaced apart by a distance        between the inner edge of one of said strips and the outer edge        of an adjacent one of said strips; and    -   wherein the inner edge of the strip of shortest length in the        first series and the inner edge of the strip of shortest length        in the second series define an opening in the outer member;    -   an inner member comprising:    -   a first spine having an aperture near an outer end and an axis;    -   a second spine having the same axis as the first spine of the        inner member;    -   a first series of progressively longer angularly spaced strips        each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends,        each end connected to a respective one of the spines of the        inner member on a first side; and    -   a second series of progressively longer angularly spaced strips        each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends,        each end connected to a respective one of the spines of the        inner member on a second side;    -   wherein the strips of each series of the inner member are spaced        apart by a distance between the outer edge of one of said strips        and the inner edge of an adjacent one of said strips;    -   an outer pivotal suspending device for rotatably supporting the        outer member by the first aperture near the outer end of the        first spine said outer member; and    -   an inner pivotal suspending device for rotatably supporting the        inner member within the opening of the outer member, said inner        pivotal suspending device extending from the second aperture in        the first spine of the outer member to the aperture in the first        spine of the inner member;    -   wherein the outer member is made from a first flat sheet of        metal that is cut to form the two series of strips of said outer        member which are then angularly displaced from the flat sheet to        different angles by bending;    -   wherein the inner member is made from a second flat sheet of        metal that is cut to form the two series of strips of said inner        member which are then angularly displaced from the flat sheet to        different angles by bending; and    -   wherein the outer member is suspended for rotational motion        about the axis of the spines of said outer member and the inner        member is suspended within the opening of the outer member for        rotational motion about the axis of the spines of said inner        member.

Preferably the axis of the spines of the outer member coincides with theaxis of the spines of the inner member such that the rotational motionof each of said members is about the same axis.

Preferably there is provided:

-   -   a aperture in the second spine of the inner member near an outer        end thereof;    -   an corresponding aperture in the second spine of the outer        member near an inner end thereof; and    -   a second inner pivotal suspending device;    -   wherein the second inner pivotal suspending device extends from        the aperture in the second spine of the inner member to the        corresponding aperture in the second spine of the outer member        to further support the inner member for rotational motion within        the opening of the outer member.

Preferably the inner edge of the strip of shortest length in the firstseries of the inner member and the inner edge of the strip of shortestlength in the second series of the inner member define an opening withinsaid inner member.

Preferably the inner edge of the strip of shortest length in the firstseries of the inner member and the inner edge of the strip of shortestlength in the second series of the inner member are connected in such away as to outline a two dimensional shape between said inner edges andthe respective outer edges of said strips, thereby defining both theopening within said inner member and a respective silhouette.

Preferably there is provided at least one opening between the inner andouter edges of the strip of shortest length of at least one of the twoseries of strips of the inner member, thereby further defining thesilhouette, said at least one opening made by cutting through the secondflat sheet of metal used to make said inner member.

Preferably adjacent strips of the first series of the outer member areangularly spaced by a generally equal first angle and adjacent strips ofthe second series of the outer member are angularly spaced by agenerally equal second angle.

Preferably the first and second angles of the outer member are generallyequal.

Preferably each strip in the first series of the outer member isangularly spaced from a respective strip in the second series of theouter member by about 180 degrees.

Preferably adjacent strips of the first series of the inner member areangularly spaced by a generally equal first angle and adjacent strips ofthe second series of the inner member are angularly spaced by agenerally equal second angle.

Preferably the first and second angles of the inner member are generallyequal.

Preferably each strip in the first series of the inner member isangularly spaced from a respective strip in the second series of theinner member by about 180 degrees.

The present invention improves upon the visual effect of existingthree-dimensional rotating ornaments by including two rotating memberswherein one such member is suspended within the other for rotationrelative thereto. This improves on the visual effect of the decorativeornament by allowing the members to rotate at different velocities aboutthe same axis. In the case that the rotational axes of the two membersdo not coincide, the inner member will rotate with the outer member andbe free to rotate about a second axis. The use of two separate membersallows each member to be produced in a different colour adding to thevisual appeal of the decoration. Finally, providing a silhouette withinthe inner member of the assembly further increases the complexity of theoverall visual effect when the decoration is rotated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodimentof the present invention:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the decorative assembly.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the decorative assembly.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a metal sheet having been cut duringfabrication of the outer member of the decorative assembly.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a metal sheet having been cut duringfabrication of the inner member of the decorative assembly.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of one of the pivotal supports used in thedecorative assembly.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the pivotal supports used in thedecorative assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the present invention is shown from the front and thetop in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. The decorative assembly 1 featuresand outer member 2 and an inner member 3 suspended for rotationalmotion. The outer member 2 includes a plurality of angularly spacedlongitudinal strips 16 each having an inner edge 21, an outer edge 22,an upper end 29 and a lower end 30. Each strip connects to an upperspine 13 at its upper end 29, extends longitudinally between its inneredge 21 and outer edge 22 and connects to a lower spine 14 at its lowerend 30. On each side of the spines, the strips 16 are progressivelylonger moving outward from the center of the outer member 2. The spines13 and 14 are aligned in order to share a single vertical axis aroundwhich the spines 16 are angularly spaced. The strips are arranged suchthat the number of strips 16 on a first side 31 of the spines 13 and 14is equal to the number of strips 16 on a second side 32 of said spines.The strips on the first side 31 of the spines 13 and 14 are spacedaround the axis of said spines such that the angle between any twoadjacent strips is the same, and the strips on the second side 32 ofsaid spines are spaced in the same manner by the same angle. Each stripon one side of said spines has a respective strip on the opposite sidefrom which it is angularly spaced by approximately 180 degrees. Eachstrip is spaced from an adjacent strip on the same side of the spines bya distance between the inner edge 21 of one strip and the outer edge 22of the other. In other words, the strips 17 are spaced apart by thedifference in their radial distance from the center of the outer member2.

A first aperture 8 is provided in the upper spine 13 near the longest ofthe strips 16 on either side of said spine, allowing the outer member 2,and thus the entire decorative assembly 1, to be suspended by an outerpivotal support 4. The outer pivotal support 4 features a mounting ring7 for engagement to a hook or other external support device (not shown).The first aperture 8 is located on the vertical axis of the spines suchthat the outer member 2 is free to rotate about said axis. An opening 15in the outer member 2 is defined by the inner edge 21 of the strip ofshortest length on both sides 31 and 32 of the spines 13 and 14. Asecond aperture 9 is provided in the upper spine 13 and a third aperture12 is provided on the lower spine 14, each aperture being located on thevertical axis of the spines near the opening 15 of the outer member 2.

The inner member 3 is similar to the outer member 2 except for a fewdifferences including size and colour. The inner member 3 includes aplurality of angularly spaced longitudinal strips 17 each having aninner edge 34, an outer edge 35, an upper end 36 and a lower end 37.Each strip connects to an upper spine 27 at its upper end 36, extendslongitudinally between its inner edge 34 and outer edge 35 and connectsto a lower spine 28 at its lower end 37. On each of the two sides 31 and32 of the spines 27 and 28, the strips 17 are progressively longermoving outward from the center of the inner member 3. The spines of theinner and outer members are aligned to share the same single verticalaxis, around which the strips 17 of the inner member are angularlyspaced. The strips 17 are arranged such that the number of strips on thefirst side 31 of the spines 27 and 28 is equal to the number of stripson the second side 32 of said spines. The strips on the first side 31 ofthe spines 27 and 28 are spaced around the axis of said spines such thatthe angle between any two adjacent strips is the same, and the strips onthe second side 32 of said spines are spaced in the same manner by thesame angle. Each strip on one side of said spines has a respective stripon the opposite side from which it is angularly spaced by approximately180 degrees. Each strip is spaced from an adjacent strip on the sameside of the spines by a distance between the inner edge 34 of one stripand the outer edge 35 of the other. In other words, the strips 17 arespaced apart by the difference in their radial distance from the centerof the inner member 3.

A first aperture 10 is provided in the upper spine 27 of the innermember 3 near the longest of the strips 17 on either side of said spine,allowing the inner member 3 to be suspended within the opening 15 of theouter member by a first inner pivotal support 5 hanging from the secondaperture 9 in the upper spine 13 of the outer member 2. The firstaperture 10 is located on the vertical axis of the spines such that theinner member 3 is free to rotate about said axis. As a result, the inner3 and outer 2 members of the decorative assembly 1 can rotate about thesame axis. Connecting the inner 3 and outer 2 members by a pivotalsupport 5 rather than a fixed support, rotation of the inner member 3relative to the outer member 2 is possible thereby creating a morestunning visual effect. A second aperture 11 provided in the lower spine28 of the inner member 3 is connected to the third aperture 12 in theouter member 2 by means of a second inner pivotal support 6. Thismaintains proper alignment of the spines of the two members, therebyensuring each member rotates about the same vertical axis and thatstrips of the two members do not collide during rotation.

Aside from the difference in size necessary to allow the inner member 3to fit within the opening 15 of the outer member 2, the inner memberalso differs in that it provides an additional decorative aspect to theassembly 1. The inner edge of the shortest of the strips 17 on the firstside 31 of the spines 27 and 28 and the inner edge of the shortest stripon the second side 32 of said spines are shaped in such a manner as totogether define an opening 18 and a silhouette 19. Shaped holes 20further define the overall appearance of the light blocking silhouette19. During rotation of the inner member 3, the silhouette blocksdifferent amounts of light from passing through the assembly 1 to theobserver depending on its angular position about the vertical axisdefined by the spines 27 and 28.

The outer member 2 of the decorative assembly 1 is fabricated by lasercutting and bending a flat sheet of metal into the form shown in FIG. 1.FIG. 3 illustrates a shaped piece of sheet metal having been cut but notyet bent to create the final three-dimensional outer member. The piece38 has been cut to form a generally circular two-dimensional shapedefined by an outermost edge 24 and further cut to create an innermostedge 23 defining the opening 15 of the outer member 2. Cuts made betweenthe innermost edge 23 and the outermost edge 24 extending betweenopposite ends 39 and 40 of the piece 38 create slots 44 that define theplurality of strips 16. The width of the slots 44 determines thedistance between the inner edge 21 of a strip 16 and the outer edge 22of an adjacent strip, thereby defining the spacing of the strips. Anuncut portion at one end 39 of the piece 38 forms the lower spine 14 ofthe outer member 2 and an uncut portion at the opposite end 40 forms theupper spine 13. Three holes are laser cut into the piece, two atopposite ends of the upper spine 13 and one at an end of the lower spine14 nearest the opening 15, in order to create the first 8, second 9 andthird 12 apertures respectively. Each strip 16 is then bent out of theplane defined by the flat surface of the two dimensional piece 38 inorder to form the angularly spaced arrangement of strips 16 as shownfrom above in FIG. 2. Dashed line 33 represents the vertical plane fromwhich each strip is angularly displaced by bending the opposing ends 29and 30 of said strip by an equal amount in the same direction.

The inner member 3 of the decorative assembly 1 is fabricated by asimilar process. FIG. 4 illustrates a shaped piece of sheet metal havingbeen cut but not yet bent to create the final three-dimensional innermember. The piece 41 has been cut to form a generally circulartwo-dimensional shape defined by an outermost edge 26 and further cut tocreate an innermost edge 25 defining the opening 18 and silhouette 19 ofthe inner member 3. Holes 20 are cut to further define the shape of thesilhouette 19. Cuts made between the innermost edge 25 and the outermostedge 26 extending between opposite ends 42 and 43 of the piece 41 createslots 45 that define the plurality of strips 17. An uncut portion at oneend 42 of the piece 41 forms the lower spine 28 of the inner member 3and an uncut portion at the opposite end 43 forms the upper spine 27.Two holes are laser cut into the piece near the outermost edge 26, onein the upper spine 27 and one in the lower spine 14, in order to createthe first 10 and second 11 apertures respectively. Each strip 17 is thenbent out of the plane defined by the flat surface of the two dimensionalpiece 41 in order to form the angularly spaced arrangement of strips 17as shown from above in FIG. 2. Dashed line 33 represents the verticalplane from which each strip is angularly displaced by bending theopposing ends 36 and 37 of said strip by an equal amount in the samedirection.

The first inner pivotal support 5 is used to connect the inner and outermembers by means of the second aperture 9 of said outer member 2 and thefirst aperture 10 of said inner member such that said inner member 3hangs within the opening 15 of said outer member 2 and is free to rotatetherein. The second inner pivotal support 6 connects the two members ina similar fashion between the second aperture 11 of the inner member 3and the third aperture 12 of the outer member 2 in order to maintain aconsistent alignment between said members. The entire decorativeassembly 1 is then suspended by means of the outer pivotal support 4which connects the first aperture 8 of the outer assembly 2 to amounting ring 7. The mounting ring 7 can then by slipped over anexternal hook or similar support device (not shown) in order to supportthe assembly 1 for rotational motion. Due to the multiple pivotalsupports the members are free to rotate at different angular velocitiesand can be spun either manually or by air currents of sufficient force.

The type of pivotal support used to suspend the inner and outer membersof the decorative assembly is known to those of skill in the art and isshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each pivotal support 46 features a housing 47,an upper rod 48 extending upward from atop said housing and a lower rod49 extending downward from within said housing. Upper rod 48 is fixedwith respect to the housing while lower rod 49 is free to rotaterelative to said housing about a longitudinal axis thereof. The upperand lower rods 48 and 49 have holes 52 and 53 passing respectivelytherethrough. Connector rings 50 and 51 engage the rods 48 and 49respectively by means of holes 52 and 53. These rings also engage theinner 3 and outer 2 members of the decorative assembly 1 by means of theapertures therein for rotational support of said members. The rings 50and 51 function in the same manner as key rings, which are known tothose of skill in the art, to connect two objects. A larger support ring7 is attached to the upper connector ring 50 of the outer pivotalsupport 4 so that the decorative assembly can be hung from exteriorsupport devices of various sizes. Alternate means of connecting thepivotal supports 4, 5 and 6 to the members 2 and 3 of the decorativeassembly 1 and external support device are known to those of skill inthe art.

The above description outlines a single embodiment of the presentinvention intended to illustrate the concept of suspending athree-dimensional decorative member for independent rotation withinanother three-dimensional decorative member. A number of alternateembodiments can be developed base on small modifications that would beobvious to those skilled in the art. In the described embodiment eachstrip has the same general shape, the same uniform width between itsinner and outer edges, the same radial and angular distance to adjacentstrips on the same side of the spines and a respective strip on theopposite side of the spines approximately 180 degrees away. Each ofthese factors can be varied, making a number of other embodimentspossible. Each strip can have a different shape, an irregular shape andvarying width. The strips can be spaced apart by varying angles anddistances and do not have to be paired up across the spines in a 180degree arrangement. The silhouette of the inner member can be eliminatedby having no portions of the inner edge of the innermost strip on eachside of the spines jutting inward, thereby leaving only an opening. Inthis case, a third member could be fabricated and suspended forindependent rotation within the inner member in the same fashion as theinner member is suspended within the outer member. Alternatively, thepiece of sheet metal used to fabricate the inner member can have no cutswithin the outer edge of the innermost strip on each side of the spines,thereby eliminating the opening altogether and having a solid metalshape in the center of the assembly.

In one alternate embodiment, the decorative assembly can be suspendedfor rotation about a horizontal axis. This would require the addition ofa fourth aperture in the lower spine of the outer member near the outeredge of the piece for receiving a second outer pivotal support. Theassembly 1 would then be rotated 90 degrees from the orientation shownin FIG. 1 such that the spines are aligned along a horizontal axisrather than a vertical one. The assembly would then be suspended betweena pair of hooks or other supporting devices arranged one on each side ofsaid assembly.

Further embodiments may feature a separate rotational axis for each ofthe inner and outer members of the decorative assembly. This arrangementinvolves positioning the spines of the inner member out of alignmentwith the spines of the outer member. In this case, the second apertureof the outer member is located somewhere along the shortest strip on oneside of the spines of said member and the third aperture is located onthe corresponding shortest strip on the opposite side such that an axisextending between said apertures passes through the center of theassembly. The spines and corresponding apertures of the inner member arealigned along this axis and the inner member is suspended within theouter member by the inner pivotal supports. In this arrangement, theinner member can undergo motion caused by the rotation of the outermember as well as rotational motion about its own axis.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein abovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without department from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

1. A decorative assembly comprising: an outer member comprising: a firstspine having an axis, a first aperture near an outer end and a secondaperture near an inner end; a second spine having the same axis as thefirst spine; a first series of progressively longer angularly spacedstrips each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends,each end connected to a respective one of the spines on a first side;and a second series of progressively longer angularly spaced strips eachhaving an inner edge, an outer edge and two opposite ends, each endconnected to a respective one of the spines on a second side; whereinthe strips in each series are spaced apart by a distance between theinner edge of one of said strips and the outer edge of an adjacent oneof said strips; and wherein the inner edge of the strip of shortestlength in the first series and the inner edge of the strip of shortestlength in the second series define an opening in the outer member; aninner member comprising: a first spine having an aperture near an outerend and an axis; a second spine having the same axis as the first spineof the inner member; a first series of progressively longer angularlyspaced strips each having an inner edge, an outer edge and two oppositeends, each end connected to a respective one of the spines of the innermember on a first side; and a second series of progressively longerangularly spaced strips each having an inner edge, an outer edge and twoopposite ends, each end connected to a respective one of the spines ofthe inner member on a second side; wherein the strips of each series ofthe inner member are spaced apart by a distance between the outer edgeof one of said strips and the inner edge of an adjacent one of saidstrips; an outer pivotal suspending device for rotatably supporting theouter member by the first aperture near the outer end of the first spinesaid outer member; and an inner pivotal suspending device for rotatablysupporting the inner member within the opening of the outer member, saidinner pivotal suspending device extending from the second aperture inthe first spine of the outer member to the aperture in the first spineof the inner member; wherein the outer member is made from a first flatsheet of metal that is cut to form the two series of strips of saidouter member which are then angularly displaced from the flat sheet todifferent angles by bending; wherein the inner member is made from asecond flat sheet of metal that is cut to form the two series of stripsof said inner member which are then angularly displaced from the flatsheet to different angles by bending; and wherein the outer member issuspended for rotational motion about the axis of the spines of saidouter member and the inner member is suspended within the opening of theouter member for rotational motion about the axis of the spines of saidinner member.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the axis ofthe spines of the outer member coincides with the axis of the spines ofthe inner member such that the rotational motion of each of said membersis about the same axis.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1 whereinthere is provided: an aperture in the second spine of the inner membernear an outer end thereof; an corresponding aperture in the second spineof the outer member near an inner end thereof; and a second innerpivotal suspending device; wherein the second inner pivotal suspendingdevice extends from the aperture in the second spine of the inner memberto the corresponding aperture in the second spine of the outer member tofurther support the inner member for rotational motion within theopening of the outer member.
 4. The assembly according to claim 1wherein the inner edge of the strip of shortest length in the firstseries of the inner member and the inner edge of the strip of shortestlength in the second series of the inner member define an opening withinsaid inner member.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4 wherein theinner edge of the strip of shortest length in the first series of theinner member and the inner edge of the strip of shortest length in thesecond series of the inner member are connected in such a way as tooutline a two dimensional shape between said inner edges and therespective outer edges of said strips, thereby defining both the openingwithin said inner member and a respective silhouette.
 6. The assemblyaccording to claim 5 wherein there is provided at least one openingbetween the inner and outer edges of the strip of shortest length of atleast one of the two series of strips of the inner member, therebyfurther defining the silhouette, said at least one opening made bycutting through the second flat sheet of metal used to make said innermember.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein adjacent strips ofthe first series of the outer member are angularly spaced by a generallyequal first angle and adjacent strips of the second series of the outermember are angularly spaced by a generally equal second angle.
 8. Theassembly according to claim 7 wherein the first and second angles of theouter member are generally equal.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8wherein each strip in the first series of the outer member is angularlyspaced from a respective strip in the second series of the outer memberby about 180 degrees.
 10. The assembly according to claim 1 whereinadjacent strips of the first series of the inner member are angularlyspaced by a generally equal first angle and adjacent strips of thesecond series of the inner member are angularly spaced by a generallyequal second angle.
 11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein thefirst and second angles of the inner member are generally equal.
 12. Theassembly according to claim 11 wherein each strip in the first series ofthe inner member is angularly spaced from a respective strip in thesecond series of the inner member by about 180 degrees.